Home is where the heart is. The truth is, home is where EVERYTHING is these days: work, school, dinner and a movie, the corner bar, newscasts, concerts, sporting events, etc. With stay at home orders of varying degrees across the United States due to COVID-19, we are all getting to know our homes better than we thought we ever would.

While it is a stressful time for everyone, it has also been a time to step back and take life slower. It means more time at home with family, which for many parents of young children, has been both a gift and a challenge. It has also given us more time to think about home improvement projects. At Perlick, one of our missions when we developed our residential line was to help people enhance their homes with beautiful kitchen and home bar products that will stand the test of time.

Comfort in your home

For years we have been helping people design their dream indoor/outdoor home bars, wine reserves, and luxury kitchens. It is especially important today, during these uneasy times, that we help people feel as comfortable in their homes as possible. We recently reached out to southern California-based luxury designer Audra Wrightson of Audra Interiors and talked through how to make your home your haven. Audra is certified by the California Council for Interior Design, and has been designing homes, showrooms, and many other beautiful spaces for decades. She was named one of Orange County’s top five interior designers by CBS News, and believes the success of a design comes down to how well she can bring out the true reflection of each unique client through creating their dream spaces and impacting their overall environment.

Audra has used Perlick products in many of her designs, including a recent remodel of the Water Inc. Perlick and Body Glove Showroom in Carson, California.

Photos: Rod Foster Photography

We love Audra’s positive attitude and fresh outlook on interior design, so we wanted her to share her tips on how you can make your home as efficient and comfortable as possible during this time  when homes are serving multiple purposes.

As a self-employed interior designer, Audra is used to working from home when not doing site visits (her coworker is her pup Gracie!) She has some great tips for working from home and creating a healthy and productive home office.

Audra's Tips

*Clear the clutter: Go through file cabinets, bookcases and all surfaces to develop a clean working area that allows you to be more productive

*Organize and prioritize your day: Schedule things on your daily calendar a week in advance, and time block everything so you can focus and complete each task

*Make a list of things you want to complete: Phone calls and emails you want to make; then put them on your calendar

*While it is important to have spaces where you can focus on work, school, and other tasks, it is just as important to be able to wind down in your home at night. Audra suggests keeping the living room and bedroom work free if you can.

*Keep the living room and bedroom free from work piles, so when you are relaxing with the family you can focus on them, not on unfinished work projects.

*Clean the kitchen every night after dinner, so you have an organized and clean space ready for the next morning. Audra believes this makes a huge difference in how you start your day.

*Your bedroom should be technology free (a.k.a. phone and TV); this room should be a sacred space for a good night's sleep

*Drink hot tea to relax, and listen to a calming meditation music to help you sleep

Gather Again

At Perlick, we are excited for the time when we can gather again. We hope that when the time comes, you choose to Gather Around a Perlick. We have local dealers across the U.S. and Canada, and fabulous designers like Audra, who together can help you make your home the dream space you have always wanted. Audra has even started a new business model consisting of online design that can be done remotely, which is helpful for the times we are in now. It allows her to work with clients across the United States. You can find more information HERE.

In the meantime, we hope you can utilize Audra’s tips, and most importantly, stay safe and healthy with your families.